Participated · Series A · Sep 2022

Hello Cake is a sexual wellness brand whose product line includes prescription medication, supplements, lubricants and devices sold through retail and direct channels. Its products are available nationwide at Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Amazon and hellocake.com. The company says it has more than doubled its retail footprint from 2023 to 2024 and plans to scale presence across all major retailers and Amazon. Hello Cake announced the acquisition of Trigg Laboratories, including the Wet brand, to vertically integrate manufacturing, IP ownership and product innovation; Trigg will continue operating under its name with Simone Buntin remaining as COO of the Las Vegas operation. Management expects vertical integration to increase profitability, accelerate product innovation and bring new products to market faster; integration is expected to be completed within 90 days. Hello Cake has raised over $36 million in total funding to date and is expanding its executive team to support retail, digital and telehealth growth. Cake offers a portfolio of sexual wellness products — lubricants, condoms, toys and hygiene items — that are now stocked in major retailers and online marketplaces. The company currently has five products in physical store locations and is available on Amazon, Thrive Marketplace and UrbanOutfitters.com. Cake recently expanded retail placements, adding four products to CVS and increasing Walmart SKUs from four to 11. The brand grew 200% year over year between 2021 and 2022. Cake has hired Dollar Shave Club’s former Chief Innovation Officer Fadi Mourad to lead product innovation and former SmartyPants executive Christina Komen to head retail sales. The company plans to deploy new capital toward continued retail expansion and product innovation, and expects an additional major retailer to carry Cake in 2022 and 2023. Cake sells lubricants, condoms, massagers and enhancers and operates a direct-to-consumer store with nearly 20 products. The brand expanded into Walmart last year and has now launched into Target, putting products in more than 5,000 stores combined. Between February 2021 and February 2022 Cake recorded over 500% revenue growth and sees a 40% repeat purchase rate. Founders Hunter Morris and Mitch Orkis started the company after identifying an unaddressed opportunity in sexual wellness and emphasize education and a non-embarrassing, fun brand tone. Cake has implemented color-coded product experiences and encourages mix-and-match usage. The company plans to double down on retail and build an omnichannel presence while using new funding to cover inventory, marketing, team build-out and new partners. Cake is a sexual wellness brand that sells specialty lubricants, toys, and sexual hygiene products designed for specific types of sexual enjoyment. Its products are made from high-quality ingredients, inspired by real individuals, and tested across the spectrum of sexual preferences before launch. The company offers a satisfaction guarantee and sells direct-to-consumer at hellocake.com with select products available at Walmart. Cake reports that 84% of its customers directly attribute the brand to leading to a better sex life and cites notable retail traction within nine months. Funding now totals $5.7 million after a new Seed round, and the company plans to dedicate the new capital to product development, scaling e-commerce, and expanding distribution into new retail channels. Leadership frames the brand as removing shame and confusion from sexual-wellness shopping by making products simple, clear, and approachable. Cake is a sexual wellness company based in Los Angeles that launched its first product line of premium lubricants and pre- and post-sex cleansing wipes. The inaugural lubricant line includes Motion Lotion (a moisturizing cream for solo penis play), Tush Cush (a light water-based jelly for beginner anal play), Toy Joy (a non-drip water-based jelly for toy play), Backside Slide (an ultra-slide silicone lubricant for anal play), and Get Naked (an organic aloe-based lubricant ideal for vaginal play). The company also offers Feel Fresh cleanliness wipes intended for pre- and post-sex clean up. All products are formulated free from alcohol, parabens, dyes, sulfates, and added fragrances. Cake says its formulations are informed by feedback from couples and individuals with varying sexual preferences to better suit users' bodies. The product line is available at hellocake.com, and the company said it will use seed financing to develop additional offerings and expand the team.

Participated · Seed · May 2022

Adgile Media Group operates a tech-enabled, data-driven out-of-home media platform that converts last-mile delivery trucks into metric-centric mobile billboards for brands nationwide. The company uses proprietary technology to track and measure campaign performance on moving assets. It plans to use the new funding to increase geographic presence, broaden branding, advance development of proprietary technology, and recruit hires across sales, data science and engineering. Adgile was co-founded in 2018 by Tom Shea and Max Flannery through the University of Chicago’s New Venture Challenge. The company is based in New York and focuses on metric-centric mobile OOH solutions for brands. Its current financial update is a $5 million Seed raise announced in May 2022.

Participated · Seed · Dec 2019

Vertosa engineers patent-pending nano- and micro-emulsions and pre-suspended aqueous solutions tailored to food, beverage, health, beauty and other infused-product makers. Their formulations are designed to maximize bioavailability, clarity, taste and stability while fitting manufacturers' texture and potency targets. The company works closely with lab partners and clients throughout the manufacturing process to accelerate products to market. Vertosa serves both licensed cannabis and hemp markets and lists clients ranging from startups (House of Saka, Tinley Beverage Co, GoodDay Beverages) to household names (Humphry Slocombe, VitaCoco). The company rebranded from Nanogen Labs after its August 2018 founding and is based in Oakland, California. Vertosa plans to use new capital to scale strategically, expand its team, and solidify its role in the infused-products supply chain.

Participated · Equity · Oct 2019

Founded in 2010 by Emily Doyle and Oliver Sweatman, Ursa Major develops and sells clean, refreshing skincare products aimed at consumers across the gender spectrum. Its catalogue now comprises 18 core items, including Golden Hour Recovery Cream, Fantastic Face Wash, Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum, and Hoppin’ Fresh Deodorant, as well as Go Easy Shampoo and Conditioner. The company distributes through its own website, Amazon, specialty retailers such as Credo, Goop, and REI, and an amenity program that serves boutique fitness studios and hotels like Equinox Precision Run and Autocamp. Ursa Major has achieved average annual revenue growth of more than 60% year-over-year for the past five years, signaling strong customer traction. The new capital will be directed toward filling key talent gaps, expanding product innovation, and accelerating marketing and sales initiatives. Management is focused on deepening retail partnerships and broadening brand awareness while continuing to expand its clean-ingredient product line.

Participated · Series C · Jul 2019

4th & Heart is a Marina del Rey, CA-based maker of Ayurvedic ghee butter and related kitchen essentials, including flavored spreads and oils. Its products are sold nationwide in over 12,000 stores, including Whole Foods, Kroger, Albertsons, Publix, Wegmans, Walmart, and on Amazon in the U.S. The company positions its ghee products as kitchen staples and continues to expand retail distribution. 4th & Heart received a minority investment from Aterian, which company leadership says will fuel growth in current and emerging markets. Aterian invested approximately $0.2 million in cash and approximately 145,000 shares of Aterian common stock as part of the transaction. No other terms of the transaction were disclosed. 4th & Heart is built around grass-fed ghee and offers a portfolio of flavored ghee butter spreads, pourable oils, sprays and chocolate spreads. Founded in 2015 and based in Venice, CA, the company positions itself as the North American ghee category leader. It currently carries 21 SKUs and is available in over 10,000 stores nationwide including Amazon, Whole Foods, Kroger, Sprouts and Gelson’s. The brand is expanding into mass retail with a Target roll-out (SuperTarget and PFresh) and is adding new items at existing retailers such as Sprouts and Whole Foods. Product roadmap includes the upcoming WOKE line of grass-fed collagen ghee protein and energy bars. Management says it will use new capital to bolster innovation and distribution to grow household penetration and reach. Fourth & Heart is a Los Angeles-based premium artisanal ghee company led by founder and CEO Raquel Tavares Gunsagar. It produces flavored, grass-fed, pasture-raised, glyphosate-free ghee in gourmet varieties including White Truffle Salt, Himalayan Pink Salt, California Garlic, Madagascar Vanilla Bean and Original Recipe. The brand is sold in over 3,500 stores nationwide — including Whole Foods Market, Kroger and Sprouts — and is available online at Thrive Market and Amazon. The company planned to launch an e-commerce section on FourthandHeart.com and aimed to be in 6,000 stores by the end of the year. Fourth & Heart closed a $1M Series A on the CircleUp platform from an undisclosed individual. The company intends to use the funds to develop new innovative food products.